Mission to feed the homeless

A hot meal and warm clothes – basic necessities we may take for granted but for more than 25,000 homeless people around NSW it is neither an option nor a guarantee.

New group Maronites on a Mission (MOM) from St Charbel’s Church in Punchbowl is changing that with their outreach program to feed the poor and homeless.

This program sees weekly food van runs feeding the homeless in Martin Place and Woolloomooloo in the city and Prince Alfred’s Park in Parramatta.

It has proven to be a big hit with the homeless with over 450 hot meals served a week which varies from rice dishes, pastas, soups, hot burgers and sausages.

“We want to establish a good relationship with the homeless; listen to them and attend to their needs by providing them with a stable point of contact. We help anyone in need; at the end of the day we are all God’s people and our mission is to help and enhance other peoples’ lives,” said Charbel Taouk, President of MOM.

However the food run was almost in jeopardy when MOM had to return their previously borrowed food van.

When Canterbury League Club heard about their plight they responded by donating $30,000 to their cause. Their funding, available through the ClubGrants program, went towards the purchase and fit out of MOM’s new food van.

“The Board received their request for assistance and within four weeks were able to hand them a cheque for their new food van. Organisations like Maronites on a Mission are literally the vehicles of change and we have always been committed to help our community with projects like this,” said George Coorey, Director at Canterbury League Club.